Going to Mayo 3/26/07 for Myectomy +

[Dewayne]

I have decided to go to the Mayo Clinic after fighting many symptoms for several years and feeling worse and worse. I am loaded up with meds and can not take anymore than what I'm taking now and I still have a slight gradient at rest and more under valsalva (last echo 64). I knew after speaking with Lisa and reading through many of the post that it was the next logical step for me. I now realize that taking Inderal (120), Verapamil (180), and Norpace (750) along with aspirin, Zocor, and other stomach meds, all at the same time is not the norm.

Oh yeah, I will probably be getting the myectomy combo.... I have some muscle bridging on the backside of my heart that I hope can be improved at the same time.

I am looking forward to playing with my girls again without getting out of breath and hurting all night from it.

My test date is 3/27, consult the 28th, and surgery the 29th.

Please pray for fast healing and most of all, my wife and family.

**I have a great deal of gratitude and respect for everyone here at the HCMA and for Mrs. Lisa Salberg for helping me to make a crucial decision.
God Bless you all!

I am leaning on a favorite promise from the Lord.......
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

[angall]

Hi

I could go on and on about Mayo, but I'm sure you've read so much positive reports and outcomes from people that have had procedures there. Be reassured that the best possible care will be provided to you as both a patient and a person.

The weather here in Minnesota is warming up a little (in the high 30's to low 40's), but who knows what it will be like when you arrive by the end of the month.

I will include you and your family in my prayers. Please keep us posted.

[Cynaburst]

I had a myectomy at Mayo on August 11 of last year. I am so glad that I did, and everyone at Mayo is incredible.

I wrote a blog of my experience if you are interested in reading about it:

http://cynthiassummeradventure.blogspot.com/

By the way, excerpts from my blog are going to be published in the next issue of a Mayo magazine called "Word For Word" which is distributed around Mayo for patients to read.
I have been corresponding with the Corporate Communications Dept. who found the blog on the net last summer!

Apparently this is my 15 minutes!

[Mary O'Shannon]

I will be praying for you and for your family. I'll be following not far behind you.... my myectomy will be at Mayo on April 16th. Keep us posted on your progress. Blessings... Mary

[THW]

Posted by Dewayne:
"I am leaning on a favorite promise from the Lord.......
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."[/QUOTE]
____________________

....As you should, because yes, you can, and yes, He definetely does. And don't forget Phil 4:4-9, too. I have clung to those verses in difficult times.
I will pray for your wife and children as well as your surgery. How old are your daughters?

Update us when you can.
Theresa

[HuskerJeff]

As an alumni of the course ahead of you, let me reassure you by echo'ing the previous posters: you couldn't be going to a better place. Best of luck to you on this journey, and please feel free to PM me if you'd like to talk about things in the next 2 weeks as you get to contemplate the trip. I swear looking back that the hardest part was the waiting.

Jeff

[Neenee]

Best of luck to you - will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

[premiertraveller]

My husband had a myectomy and a MAZE procedure done at Mayo by Dr. Schaff on Feb. 15. His cardiologist is Dr. Ommen. We were so impressed by Mayo Clinic......so efficient and patient-friendly. The doctors and nurses were wonderful. Cannot praise them enough.

On the weather....seems like Texas...you never know what it is going to be. It was -15 one day and the next week it was 47! We weren't out in it much, so it wasn't bad.

Everyone we met in Rochester were so friendly and nice. We decided they were like Texans with an accent! (They might not agree on that)

We praise God for our answered prayers and we are confident your prayers will be answered also. We'll be praying for you!

God Bless!
Troy & Sue

[Dewayne]

Thanks for all of the support and I do believe the waiting is the hardest part. The info that Mayo sends is great and all the experiences that I have read about is really very encouraging.

You know, it seems like my big ole heart knows what's coming and is really THUMPING a lot lately..... well maybe that’s mostly stress. :rolleyes:

Does anybody know if Mayo is a part of thestatus.com? (Probably a silly question) Do I need to get some info from them for doing that, or can I start setting that up now??

Thanks to all you guys and God Bless.

Dewayne

[Cynaburst]

Mayo instead of the Status.com does this:

http://www.carepages.net/

I personally chose to start a blog on blogspot.com which is also free, and does not require a password to get onto it.

[Mary O'Shannon]

Hi, Dewayne.... I know what you mean about the extra thumping. Now that I am scheduled for surgery at Mayo on April 16th (tests on Apr. 13), I've noticed, fairly often, an extra hard thumping. Thankfully my heart rhythm has stayed pretty stable. I have also felt extra tired. And, even though I truly do feel at peace with having the surgery (or surgeries, more likely, since I'll probably have a second one to have a pacer/ICD installed), I think we probably both are feeling a subtle (or not so subtle) kind of stress that our bodies reflect, even if we think we are doing well emotionally.

As far as I can tell, thestatus.com, and carepages.com are both free and anyone can use them at any time. I am trying to decide which to use. I am familiar with thestatus, and it is very user friendly. I'm not sure about carepages..... has anyone here used that site yet?

By the way, we can all send prayers for Sue McCormick, whose last post said she was going to Cleveland Clinic for surgery on the 22nd, which is tomorrow. I am not sure if she meant testing starting then, or her actual surgery was on the 22nd.

I wish the best for you, and hope you'll let us know, whichever you choose.. status or carepages... how we can stay in touch and see how you're doing and send encouragment.

Many blessings, love and light to you... Mary

[Dewayne]

Thank you to everyone that has responded and for all of your prayers. I am very glad that the Lord lead me to this site and organization.

We had a very special night last night at church. My church family blessed us more than I ever could have imagined. We were loaded down with a ton of cards that we can open throughout our stay at Mayo. We were also blessed with $ to help with expenses. I can't imagine people having to go through something like this without God and a good church family in their lives.

Well, we're off to the airport to start our journey and my wife and I will keep a blog of our progress. If you would like to view it the address is www.ourmayotrip.blogspot.com.


We are also praying for the others that are going, Mary, Heartsong and all the others.

Thanks to all and God Bless you all. I look forward to getting back and feeling better.


Dewayne

[THW]

Dewayne,
I meant to write you a note last night but was just too beat after my brother's wedding. But you already know our prayers are going with you. We will be looking forward to Teresa's updates. Hang in there, and know that God has you in the palm of his hand.

1 Peter 5:7

God bless,
Theresa

[Mary O'Shannon]

Dewayne... My prayers go with you, and I'm sending healing energy and seeing you going through the surgery successfully and experiencing a rapid recovery. I'll continue to keep you in my prayers and watch your blog for updates. Thanks for keeping us posted.

Blessings, love and light... Mary